Urban Centre · Area profile
Coober Pedy
31 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Coober Pedy, where the typical resident is 49. This remote community is markedly different from the rest of the state, with a high proportion of seniors and a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. It is a place of low incomes and small households, where more than half of the residents live alone. The population has shrunk by about 9% since 2011, reflecting a community that is aging and slowly contracting.
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The typical resident is 49, making the area far older than the national figure of 38. This is driven by a high proportion of seniors, who make up 28.3% of the people here, a figure that rose by 8.9 points since 2011.
Over a quarter of the population was born overseas, which is a little above the South Australian figure. Ancestry is diverse, with Australian and English heritage being the most common, followed by Greek, German, and Irish.
Language diversity is high, with 22.9% of people using a language other than English at home, which is well above the state average. Greek is the most common non-English language spoken.
About 30.3% of people report no religion, which is well below the national figure. This has increased by 11 points since 2011, though 40% of the community still identifies as Christian.
Educational qualifications are far below the national average, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 34.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state figure.
Typical weekly household income is $767, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Very few people earn high wages, with only 3.3% of individuals making $2,000 or more a week.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 27.8% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are notably lower here than in most other areas.
Community participation is low, with rates of unpaid care and housework well below state and national levels. Only 14.9% of people volunteer, a slight drop since 2011.
Living arrangements are unusual, as 53.9% of people live alone, far above the national figure of 25.6%. This helps explain why there are only 1.8 people per home, among the lowest in the region.
Renting is common at 33.5%, well above the state average, but the typical weekly rent of $160 is far below the national figure. Homes are mostly separate houses, and 39.2% are owned outright.
Most people rely on cars, as 11.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the state average. Very few people use public transport to get to work, with only 0.6% doing so.
The community is relatively stable, with 31.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. However, recent overseas arrivals make up 16.1% of the population.
The job market is struggling, with an unemployment rate of 11.9%, which is well above the national figure. Only 43.3% of adults are working or looking for work, a far lower rate than the state average.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score, and no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Despite this, residents have far more walkable amenities per 1,000 people than the state average.